While most psychologists agree that understanding cause-effect relationships is fundamental to the study of cognition, exactly how those relationships should be interpreted is open to serious debate. InCausal Cognition, leading experts from a range of disciplines--including philosophy, anthropology, and comparative, social, and developmental psychology--come together to offer an interdisciplinary, cutting-edge account of the field. Reflecting on a range of topics, from the role and forms of causal knowledge (both in animal and human cognition) to the development of human causal understanding, the various contributors highlight areas where different approaches converge and conflict. The result is an insightful status report of a fascinating subject that will appeal to students and researchers across the social sciences.
Introduction PART I: Causal Representation in Animal Cognition 1. Instrumental Action and Causal Representation,Anthony Dickinson and David Shanks 2. Causal Knowledge in Animals,Hans Kummer PART II: Causal Understanding in Naive Physics 3. Infants' Knowledge of Object Motion and Human Action,Elizabeth S. Spelke, Ann Phillips, and Amanda L. Woodward 4. The Acquisition of Physical Knowledge,Renee Baillargeon, Laura Kotovsky, and Amy Needham PART III: Causal Understanding in Naive Psychology 5. A Theory of Agency,Alan Leslie 6. Distinguishing Between Animates and Inanimates: Not By Motion Alone,Rochel Gelman, Frank Durgin, and Lisa Kaufman 7. Intention as Psychological Cause,David Premack and Ann James Premack PART IV: Causal Understanding in Naive Biology 8. Causal Constraints on Categories and Categorical Constraints on Biological Reasoning Across Cultures,Scott Atran 9. The Growth of Causal Understandings of Natural Kinds,Frank C. Keil 10. On thelS0